Shields Admits Marshall Hurt Her Already

By Scoop Malinowski

With three decades of experience of observing this sport I see some striking characteristics about this Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall grudge fight. I see that Claressa Shields gets very anxious, uptight and upset by Savannah Marshall’s calm confidence, whining incoherently about the past, other opponents, silly details, irrelevances, and the big tipper was the revelation of her fragility – saying Marshall has been “mean” to her. So she confessed that her feelings were hurt by Marshall’s words. This is tell tale. This admission of hurt will transfer to the fight itself, Marshall will hurt Shields and win decisively.

Marshall the has been the more impressive athlete of the fight week functions, her calm and smile and cool manner of conducting herself and speaking her thoughts is a stark contrast to Shields almost nonsensical ramblings and anxiety. Shields comes across as insecure, threatened and contradicting herself. Marshall is the absolute personification of composure, self-assured confidence and power.

Andrew Golota once told me that once a fighter can win the psychological part of the fight, the actual physical fight becomes easier. My senses feel it’s Marshall who is the one in control, and Shields is losing her mind, even saying ridiculous, desperate things like, “You wish you were black” and “She was mean to me.”

Shields seems to vaguely understand but she just can’t accept her impending doom.

I see Marshall winning by dramatic stoppage.